In the midst of the worst economic recession in more than 70 years and a downturn in individual and corporate giving, Virginia businessman and entrepreneur Earl Stafford is bucking the trend. Instead of cutting back, he's giving big to those who have the least. He expects the final tally to be $2 million by the time he finishes hosting the three-day inaugueral gathering for people he describes as "marginalized" by society disabled veterans, indigent children, the terminally ill, battered women, the disadvantaged, the homeless and the elderly. "When things are good, people don't need philanthropy as much. It's when the economy has a great downturn, as today, that businesses need to step up," says Stafford, the son of a Baptist minister who is motivated by his Christian faith. "People are hurting, and no one is bailing out the people. We must become our brothers' keepers, indeed."